Barclays Premier League 2013/14

We conceded once in November, six today.

City are too clinical and we made too many mistakes.

Oh, and this seems to have gone largely unnoticed as well.

just fuck off Sam!

wtf! WBA sacked Steve Clarke, should be Sam!

I can understand why you're optimistic, especially as a reaction to what was an appalling summer for 99% of it, I just think essentially you're a very flawed side and one that would have been badly exposed maybe even as recently as last season when faced with proper title competition.

I think your biggest problem this year is you just aren't as good a side as City. You've done well to rack up the points whilst they've been transitional away from home, and if they can not sort that issue then you'll win, but you get the impression that they could put it all together at any moment.

I just can't see Arsenal having a better chance at winning trophies than this season (Chelsea will not fail to get that striker again, we will hopefully be resurgent under a more experienced Moyes and Liverpool will probably improve again) and I just feel like its come too early for you.

You might rightly point to the fact that you're starting to spend money, but I think there's a limit to how far Wenger will go. Would the two players City have been most strengthened by (Fernandinho and Negredo) have been considered by Wenger at the prices City paid for them? Even we, I think, over the summer showed a willingness to spend more than what a player was worth, it's just he's dross.

WBA fans had been calling for his exit but I'm surprised the board felt quite so compelled to agree.

In defence of Yaya, he was trying to get his leg over and scoop the ball away like he always does. Was unfortunate that Giroud was too quick for him. But yeah, thought that should've been a booking at least.


Di Matteo to West Brom

Don't get me wrong - I consider Manchester City to be a better side than us at the moment, and I'd have them down as strong favourites for the title. For me, this season isn't about winning the league, it's about being contenders again. Would I love us to win it? Fuck yes, and I think we have a shot, but really the most important thing for Arsenal at the moment is that we progressing forward. For years we've stagnated, and the past two seasons have been painful, but this season we've made big steps forward. If we can stay in the title hunt until the end then it will be a huge improvement from barely scraping fourth for two seasons running, and from there we can build.

With all due respect, I'm not too worried about Manchester United becoming a resurgent force right now as I feel we have the better manager and the better squad. I don't doubt that you will be title challengers, be it this season or the next, but I don't think we should be looking over our shoulders and fearing what yourselves, Liverpool and Spurs will do. It's impossible to say how things will turn out in the future but I feel that we are in a good position to strengthen in the coming seasons and have the foundations of a title-winning squad here.

The sad fact of the matter is that we will always be at a disadvantage when it comes to challenging Chelsea and City as they will always have tens of millions of petro-dollars to rely on when the going gets tough. Our current side, bar Ozil, is one made up of young Brits who either came up through the youth system or were bought in their youth - Wilshere, Gibbs, Ramsey, Jenkinson, Walcott, Chamberlain - and a collection of players who cost £10m or so that Wenger has developed - Mertesacker, Koscielny, Giroud, Podolski et al. Whilst the signing of Ozil has been huge for us I can't see us ever, for example, bringing in three £25m players in one window. We can splurge now and again but not with the same consistency as Chelsea and City.

It's been a crazy season already but as I've said, I feel like we've got some immensely talented players and plenty of experience in the side that can lead us to the title, or least keep us in the hunt. I don't think we'll collapse as we have done in the past but would not at all be surprised if we fell short of Manchester City or Chelsea who probably have better squads.

I don't think it was malicious but it was reckless, and when you land your studs that high up on someone's leg it should be a straight red every time.

Cant believe Clarke has gone. Harshest sacking in Premier League history?

Dunno about harshest in history but certainly uncalled for.

Didn't West Brom have the worst current form or something?

Last thing they needed was a gradual slip into the shitter, a la Fulham under Jol.

They've won 7 in 34 and are two points off the relegation zone.

Don't think its really that harsh at all.

Suarez double today would do my bet really nice

It is a little harsh the Clarke sacking, but it's more silly on West Brom's part. They should have kept him until the end of the season.

Phelan to West Brom?

I didn't realise just how poor West Brom's 2013 record is (31 points from 34 games, relegation form) and only 3 wins this season but they did come 8th last season, which is as high as a team like West Brom can hope to finish in all honesty, and they could have had a few more points this season (Chelsea away springs to mind).

I'd have left him a bit longer yet.

WELBECK

Who the fuck is this guy? Where's Welbeck gone?

Are these the first goals he's scored since Swansea on the opening day?

Scored away to Shakhtar in the CL but yeah.

Villa gifting it at this rate.

Thank fuck Vlaar's not starting.

Whoever the number 2 is for Villa that gave the ball away for the goal is fucked, clearly injured himself when doing so and can barely run now. Just keep attacking down his side and it'll 4 or 5.

Two goals, both of them from crosses.

What crazy world is this?

Woodward does have quite the forehead.

Nice one De Gea.

Agbonlahor was being a right dick.

Get in, great finish.

Love how happy Cleverley was.

And it's 3! Yes Cleverley.

Scored from the exact area i mentioned earlier, the center back Baker is truly awful. Its like he's running in quicksand all the time, i reckon Mertesacker is quicker, though the left back Luna isn't any better.

Hope it ends up 5/6 now as Villa are pissing me right off.

Fletcher coming on.

SUPER FLETCH.

Nice to see Fletcher back!